Tuesday 14th February is set to be a day of demos for those calling on all Common Wealth countries to embrace gay rights. A mass kiss-in will take place in Trafalgar Square before a Valentine’s Day card will be delivered to the Queen at her home (Buckingham Palace). At the moment, 41 Commonwealth countries have laws against homosexual acts. The maximum punishment is life in prison or even death. Organisers of the events, Pride London, hope the day of events will raise awareness of the issue, especially as the UK is host for World Pride later this year.

The card delivered to the Queen will read “Dear Ma’am, same-sex love is illegal in 41 of your Commonwealth countries. Your gay subjects deserve freedom.” Organisers Pride London said that in 41 Commonwealth countries homosexuality is illegal, Dr Patrick Williams, chairman of Pride London, said: “As we look forward to hosting WorldPride this summer we want to help LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) communities around the world to be able to celebrate their sexuality in safety and without fear of persecution….Many of those who join us in London will return to countries where our Queen is head of state and where they risk long prison terms and the ever-present danger of homophobic and transphobic violence and murder.